Pensions strike threat

The prospect of a pre-election strike by hundreds of thousands of council workers in protest at government plans to change their pensions grew today when another union announced a ballot for industrial action.

The prospect of a pre-election strike by hundreds of thousands of council workers in protest at government plans to change their pensions grew today when another union announced a ballot for industrial action.

The Transport and General Workers Union said its 100,000 local government members in England, Wales and Scotland will vote over the next few weeks on whether to stage walkouts.

Members of Unison, the country's biggest trade union, are also being balloted after union leaders complained that changes to pension schemes will mean low-paid workers would have to work longer for less.